Very

Very before adverbs and adjectives

We use very before adverbs and adjectives to add emphasis. It means ‘to a great degree’:

He drives very fast.

The letter came very quickly.

It’s very cold in here.

We need a very high ladder to get onto the roof.

When not to use very

Not before -ed forms in passive voice

We use very much or well, not very, before -ed forms in passive voice verb phrases with verbs such as enjoy, hate, know, like, love:

She is very much liked at school.

Not: She is very liked …

He is well-known in his village as a trouble-maker.

Not: He is very known …

The concert was very much enjoyed by everyone.

Not: The concert was very enjoyed …

Not before comparatives

We use very much not very to add emphasis to comparative adverbs and adjectives:

Omah is very much better than Ian at basketball.

Not: Omah is very better than Ian …

London is very much bigger than Naples.

Not: London is very bigger than Naples.

Not before some superlatives

We can use very before superlative adjectives that end in -est (including best and worst), but we don’t use it before superlatives which use the most, we usually use by far:

Kristin is the very oldest child in the class.

This is the very lowest price I can offer.

I think watching television is by far the most harmful activity for a child.

Not: … is the very most harmful activity for a child.

Not before ungradable adjectives

Some adjectives are absolute, such as dead, unique. We do not usually use very before these ungradable adjectives:

The king was dead.

Not: The king was very dead.

He is married.

Not: He is very married.

Adjectives which describe an extreme quality can be modified by absolutely, completely, really and totally but not normally with very. Some common examples are:

amazing	excellent	horrified
awful	exceptional	huge
brilliant	fantastic	perfect
delighted	furious	stunning
essential	horrible	terrible

Her dress was absolutely stunning.

Not: Her dress was very stunning.

That singer is really awful.

Not: That singer is very awful.

It is a really fantastic film.

Not: It is a very fantastic film.

Not very

We can use not very to soften a negative comment:

Ray is usually not very punctual. (more direct: Ray is always late.)

This pasta isn’tvery nice, is it? (more direct: This pasta is not nice.)

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